To facilitate you working in partnership with a VCO and engaging in self-directed learning in order to complete the agreed investigation.
To support you to acquire research skills through independent research and project managment;
To support you in applying your knowledge to a topic pertinent to a local VCO;
To assist you to develop understanding of the workplace and bridge the gap between your academic studies and future employment;
To enable you to exercise the inter-personal and time management skills required for indpependent research.

(LO1) Enables you to expore a topic in-depth

(LO2) Offer an opportunity to apply your growing critical judegment and powers of anlysis to the area of inquiry

(LO3) Leads to the production of a project report for the host VCO

(LO4) Develops your grasp of the policy context and relevant literature or data sets related to your area of investigation

(LO5) Enables understanding of methodology by demonstrating awareness of current debates in sociological methodology and where approriate being able to apply these to the project

(S1) Communication and collaboration online participating in digital networks for learning and research

(S2) Literacy application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy - including listening and questioning

(S3) Problem solving/ critical thinking/ creativity analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.

(S4) Research management developing a research strategy, project planning and delivery, risk management, formulating questions, selecting literature, using primary/secondary/diverse sources, collecting & using data, applying research methods, applying ethics

Developing skills in independent learning through activities such as: writing a literature review, or policy analysis, or data analysis.
Developing skills in engaging with a VCO and tailoring the investigation to the needs of the organisation.
Resources and guidance will be available on Vital and in the Module Handbook

Teaching will combine online and face-to-face engagement. The 4 workshops will be synchronous on weeks 1; 4; 8; 10. Whether online or face-to-face will be determined by an ongoing assessment of the teaching/learning context in the light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Individual supervision with academic supervisors will be with online or face-to-face again, depending on the teaching/learning context.

Weekly Interchange drop-ins with Alishia Fitzsimmons will be held online.

The workshops will be supported by resources on Canvas and a short recording of key information covered in the workshop.

Mixed, hybrid delivery, with social distancing on campus,